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We are delighted to welcome the Great Tapestry of Scotland to Stirling Castle as part of its national tour. It is officially the largest embroidered tapestry in the world and tells the story of Scotland’s history.

A team of experts will be visiting sites in Renfrewshire, East Renfrewshire and Inverclyde to assess monuments of national importance. The team from Historic Scotland is responsible for identifying the most important archaeological sites and monuments in Scotland. Dr Sally Foster, Head of the Scheduling Team, said: “We are all very much looking forward to visiting these sites and meeting the owners in the coming weeks. We have identified about 120 out of the known 5000 or so sites in the area that we would particularly like to visit, ranging from early prehistoric monuments through to military remains from the Second World War. Our aim is to improve the record of existing scheduled monuments as well as identifying the important monuments that still merit legal protection."

The imposing medieval bastion of Caerlaverock Castle near Dumfries is the dramatic setting for a spectacular celebration of 2,000 years of Scotland’s history on Saturday 22nd and Sunday 23rd August. Re-enactors from all over Britain will be converging on the stunning stronghold to present colourful living history displays and performances depicting past eras right up to the 20th century in what promises to be an entertaining event for all the family. Romans, Vikings, Medieval Scots, Redcoats, Covenanters and soldiers from World Wars I and II will all feature in the action-packed programme. Visitors will be able to see exciting chronological highlights from all the eras, with authentic period displays, including weaponry demonstrations, being presented in a central arena.

If the popular BBC series ‘Who Do You Think You Are’ has inspired you to trace your own family history, an event at Elgin Cathedral might help you find out where some of your ancestors are buried. Members of the Moray Burial Ground Research Group will be at the Cathedral on Saturday 15th and Sunday 16th August to provide information on the individuals and families whose final resting place is the historic site’s graveyard. Earlier this year, the Group published a book on the memorials and headstones within the Cathedral grounds following a survey of the site carried out over three and a half years.

Visitors are invited to an open day to see this year’s excavations at the prehistoric settlement at the Links of Noltland on the island of Westray. Free tours will be provided by the Historic Scotland ranger service on Sunday, 16 August between noon and 4pm. This year’s excavation aims to fully uncover a carefully-built multi-cellular Neolithic building which still survives to five courses high, and the nearby field system.

One of the many historic highlights of Edinburgh Castle is The Scottish National War Memorial – an impressive building which was erected to commemorate those who died in conflict in the 1914-18 Great War. And the enormous sacrifice made by families throughout the country during World War I is highlighted at the castle next week when interpreters from The Royal Armouries Museum in Leeds visit to share the personal letters of one soldier, Jack Adam, his wife, Gert, and their three young children. In the Great Hall, on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, from 11.30am to 12.30pm, visitors will be able to hear extracts from the Adam family’s poignant correspondence, listen to a talk by the interpreters about the collection’s significance, and see a display of their letters, photographs and other memorabilia.